Beginning of Knowledge

Hans-Georg Gadamer (1900-2002) was a celebrated and influential continental philosopher. He spent the majority of his teaching career at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, where he became emeritus professor in 1968. He is the author of The Beginning of Philosophy and Truth and Method.

• Translator's PrefaceAuthor's Preface1. On the Tradition of Heraclitus2. Hearaclitus Studies3. Ancient Atomic Theory4. Plato and Presocratic Cosmology5. Greek Philosophy and Modern Thought6. Natural Science and the Concept of NaturePublication HistoryIndex

[Gadamer’s] views on the ancient Greeks provide a powerful reply to Heidegger’s enormously creative, but less than accurate interpretations…Whether or not one finds Gadamer’s Platonic route to the pre-Socratics to be successful, he produces stimulating insights into their views and challenges one to rearticulate why Gadamer might be wrong, if he is wrong. Such challenges are always welcome.